Savitri Study Camps

This is a standalone Canto in the Book of Death and yet it has been named Canto Three. First, Sri Aurobindo takes us close to the fatal hour, revealing profound truths about Death and human nature, caught up in its net, through a series of highly suggestive images.

Now the moment of departure draws near, and Satyavan passes into another field of consciousness. This whole occult process is described here in some detail.

The moment has arrived and Satyavan has departed from his body. In this hour of great crisis, Savitri holds back her human heart and brings out her divine element to meet the challenge thrown by Death.

Even as Savitri is inwardly armed to take the challenge of Death, the being of Death pulls out the soul of Satyavan from his body.

Now starts a long and arduous journey through the Night of Death where Savitri must bring Light. We see here the first steps of this journey that Savitri, the Divine Mother, has taken for humanity to intercede with Death on our behalf.

Savitri enters the gates of subconscient world and steps into the Night. There is threat and dread everywhere in that state where space collapses and time dissolves. But Savitri stays firm within her soul.

In that infernal realm where darkness swallows all sense and purpose and will, there is still one gleam of Light that springs forth from the soul of Savitri. It is enough to threaten the darkness and bring her memory back and resume the journey through the Night.

Death tries to dissuade Savitri but ultimately concedes an earthly boon, all except Satyavan. Savitri wisely asks Death to give back all that Satyavan wished for himself when he was alive.

Now Death tries to frighten her with the Furies and the unforgiving Law which he calls as his god. But Savitri replies to him with the greater Truth of God who loves and is compassionate and mighty and wise.

Death once more tries to intimidate Savitri, to take away faith and steal hope but Savitri knows who she is and why she has come and the power of Love that she has brought with her.

Savitri now reveals to death the secret truth hidden in the folds of darkness. She reveals to him the origin of man’s birth and his inevitable destiny.

The scene changes and Savitri moves from the grey Night and its hellish atmosphere to the ‘seeming heavens.’ Mostly built by man’s imagination and wishes, they are not the true higher planes but drawn from them.

Death is there to disillusion man from his quest for the Ideal. Therefore he starts his gospel mocking at man’s idea of God and Love which, according to him, are nothing but illusions painted by man's mind and desires.

Death continues his gospel condemning man’s hopes for the Ideal as sheer vanity and a fantasy. He tries to show the ‘harsh reality’ of earthly life to Savitri to discourage her from pursing her quest for making Earth a home for Heavenly truths.

Death ends his retort mocking love and disdaining man. But Savitri replies giving a glimpse of the divinity that is working in her bosom. She shows him what Love truly is and not what it has become under Death’s dark influence.

The Divine Mother is here to transform the creation. For this She has come armed with the Power of boundless Love that embraces all things and lifts them to the One. She further reveals that Satyavan and Savitri have met and known and worked for this divine consummation from life to life.

Death remains unconvinced. He now brings in the gospel of the materialist, who denies all that is high and deep and labels it as hallucinations dreamed by a material mind. He is unable to distinguish between process and Reality, the instrumental means and the Force that uses it.